Recent Adventures

It's been about a month since my last post. To be perfectly candid, it's all because I just didn't feel like posting. Sometimes you have to shake up the established order of things to breathe life into whatever it is you do with your time. Anyway, the photos, in no particular order..... 

Dolls are displayed in Japan as part of Hinamatsuri, or Girls Day. This house in Gunma, Japan was FILLED with dolls!  

The sacred bridge near Nikko, Japan at midnight, backlit by a light on the other side of the river.  

The mountains in Nikko, Japan! It was beautiful up there with all the snow. It actually felt like winter! Notice the road in the middle. It's a pretty windy ride to get up and down. 

Kiyono found a little snowman, and a lot of cold! That doesn't look like too much fun to hold.... 

 Kegon Waterfall in Nikko, Japan. I believe it was close to 100m tall. 

A statue near the top of Mt. Yumihari in Sasebo, Japan. I brought my camera on one of My long runs up and over the peak. I have run by this many times, but never stopped to shoot it until now. 

Karl, getting some perspective on the tall trees in the forest between Mt. Yumihari and Mt. Saewaedai. 

Karl on the top of Mt. Saewaedai. We had a 360 degree view from the top of this cliff! 

Near the top of Mt. Takao. I forget the name of these things, but they are not marshmallows... It's a Japanese rice bread that is really good!

A pool outside of one of the shrines/temples on the way to the summit of Mt. Takao.

Too Much Coffee & A Bike Ride

Cameras always add an interesting dynamic when you interact with people. I typically try to stay hidden, somewhere in the shadows, ready to stealthily attack my subjects with unprecedented artistic force (or just take a few shots while they're not looking), but occasionally I'll just shove a camera in someone's face just to see what they do....

The "eye roll", here perfectly demonstrated by my friend Chris, who is pretending he is enjoying his coffee with a side of obnoxious camera man.

Blake, giving me the "mean mug". Needless to say, I was not intimidated, and proceeded to shove my lens down his throat. 

~

Here we have an interesting thing happening. The next few shots all came about by the dude in the left side of the frame walking into Starbucks (uninvited) and saying (very observantly) "OH you have a camera. Take pictures of this". Before I could do anything to stop it, retarded-ness just happened in front of me, and I was forced to shoot and publish the following ridiculous and some-what-blackmail-ish photos of these people. All expressions are the result of very genuine and thought provoking conversation between intellectuals....

 (AKA a bunch of SCHMUCKS on the other side of the camera acting up....)

................ Now that we are all friends again, here are a few photos that actually display some sort of artistic ability. 

A bridge in Sasebo. 

A Bridge in Sasebo with a bike rider on it. 

A bridge in Sasebo at night without a bike rider on it.

A bridge in Sasebo with (you guessed it...) TWO bike riders on it. 

(I hope you enjoyed these captions as much as I enjoyed writing them). 

"Move a little to your left.... Now Suck in your gut..... OK, tilt your head a little...."

I'm not typically a "portrait" photography kind of guy, but when the opportunity arrises, and I am bribed with dinner, I'll bite. Denver and Nicole Craig, two friends here in Sasebo, Japan provided such an opportunity for me recently. They needed photos for the holidays, and I (CLEARLY) needed practice posing people as I've, well, never really done it before. Here's what we ended up with. Any blemishes, double chins, poor form or posture, or food stuck in the teeth are clearly the fault and responsibility of the photographer. That being said, enjoy!

Photos were taken on top of Mt. Yumihari, overlooking "99 Islands" National Park. (And thanks for dinner Denver + Nicole!)

Home for Christmas!

I was lucky enough to make it home to NH for Christmas and New years this year. It was the first time in a few years that all of us were able to be home together. It was also Kiyono's first real Christmas as Christmas is more of a commercial holiday in Japan, and not truly celebrated. It made for an outstanding two weeks!

Jack enjoying his new book and new sled in the kitchen, since we didn't have any snow in NH!

Kiyono was so excited to come to NH for her first real American Christmas that she bought presents for the whole family! 

Dad/Grandpa and Jack enjoying the Christmas morning flurries! 

Brian, apparently with some sort of nasal problem.....

Jack looking at me looking at him with my camera.

Grandma at Christmas dinner!

Juli contemplating the complexities of the universe..... 

Jeanne and Lynn having a good time at dinner!

Jordan with his usual "Paul why are you pointing that thing at me" expression.

Uncle Dave came too!

 

This is the first time in a few years we had everyone together. It was exactly what I needed. 

Kiyono-chan enjoying a sunset on Lake Massabesic. 

Anata wa bijin desu Kiyono-chan!!

Kiyono enjoying her first winter hike in Holderness, NH!

"Nani Paulu-Chan?"

The View. 

(Of the lakes, not Mike Mead, but thanks for providing a sense of scale, Mike!)

Boston Commons

Kiyono enjoying the steps in front of the State House in Boston, MA.

The State House in Boston, MA.

The old State House in Boston, MA. 

Lunch in Faneuil Hall!

Mom took this picture of me on one of our walks around Lake Massabesic.

The Sunset on Lake Massabesic